Goddess's Yuri harem: Chosing the Empress is hard-Chapter 77: False Accusations - Part 1

Once Auriel calmed down, she was able to use her powers to send the half-dazed priestess back.

Her body felt good, but her mind felt conflicted. Still, she did not have time to think about it (mainly because she did not want to deal with what had happened).

So, she locked the memory away in the back of her mind and went to sleep. Tomorrow was going to be a new and refreshing day.

______

Auriel’s golden eyes flickered with suspicion as she observed the nervous energy surrounding the temple. The priestesses smiled too brightly, their words a little too eager as they suggested different ways to occupy her time.

Carol, who was usually straightforward, had gone as far as to invite her to the market—a place Auriel rarely had an interest in visiting.

It was clear that they were trying to keep her distracted, which only made her curiosity grow stronger. Something was wrong, and they were going out of their way to keep her from finding out what.

She didn’t like being handled.

With a quiet sigh, Auriel folded her arms and turned to Carol.

"The market, you say? That’s quite the suggestion, Carol. I never knew you were so interested in shopping with me"

She mused, tilting her head. "

Carol’s mouth opened slightly, as if to respond, but she hesitated. Auriel caught the faint flicker of panic in her blue eyes.

"I just thought you might enjoy a change of pace. You’ve been working too hard lately, and the fresh air—"

Carol said quickly.

Auriel held up a hand, silencing her.

"Enough."

Carol flinched, and the unnamed priestesses surrounding them visibly tensed.

"I appreciate your concern. but I am not a child who needs to be distracted with meaningless errands. What exactly is going on here?"

Auriel continued, her voice even.

The priestesses exchanged uncertain glances, but no one answered. The silence spoke louder than words.

Auriel’s patience thinned. Without another word, she turned on her heel and strode toward the main hall.

"Goddess Auriel, wait—!"

One of the priestesses called after her, but she didn’t stop.

Another priestess moved to block her path, but Auriel merely raised her hand, sending out a gentle pulse of divine energy.

The woman stumbled back with a startled gasp, unable to resist the overwhelming force. The others quickly realized that stopping Auriel was impossible.

Carol hurried after her, voice frantic.

"Goddess Auriel, please, just listen to me!"

"I am listening. And I don’t like what I’m hearing."

Auriel said without looking back.

She reached the grand doors of the main hall and pushed them open without hesitation.

Inside, a group of nobles stood gathered in a tense discussion.

Their richly embroidered robes and jeweled accessories gleamed in the temple’s sacred light, but the expressions on their faces were far from reverent.

Some looked smug, others uncomfortable, but all of them turned as one when the doors swung open.

A heavy silence followed.

Auriel stepped inside, her presence commanding without effort. She let her gaze sweep over the gathered nobles, noting the way some of them averted their eyes while others tried to stand their ground.

Behind them, Priestess Lilith stood near the temple’s high altar, her face stiff with barely concealed frustration.

It was clear that she had been forced to listen to whatever these nobles had been saying, and from the little Auriel had overheard before entering, she already had a good idea of what the conversation had been about.

"Ah, so this is what you were all trying to keep from me"

Auriel murmured, breaking the silence.

The air inside the temple’s main hall grew heavier as Auriel stepped forward, her golden eyes sharp and piercing.

The gathered nobles, who had been so confidently accusing Lilith and condemning the temple, suddenly found themselves shifting uncomfortably under her gaze.

It was clear that they had not expected her arrival.

For a brief moment, there was silence. The nobles who had been shouting mere moments ago now hesitated, exchanging wary glances.

Then, one of them—a tall, bearded man adorned with a heavy fur-lined cloak—found his voice.

"G-Goddess Auriel. What a surprise to see you here"

He said, though his tone lacked reverence.

Auriel tilted her head slightly, unimpressed.

"A surprise? Am I not supposed to be here, in my own temple?"

The nobleman clenched his jaw but forced a polite smile.

"We did not mean any disrespect, of course. It’s just that we were having an... important discussion."

"An important discussion? Yes, I heard quite a bit of it already"

Auriel repeated, stepping closer.

The nobles stiffened.

Another noble, a sharp-eyed woman dressed in deep crimson, crossed her arms.

"Then surely you understand our concerns. The recent events surrounding the magic tower, the dark magic that nearly overtook the city, the strange occurrences happening in this land... People are frightened. They seek answers. And yet, the temple has offered none."

Auriel’s gaze flicked to Lilith, who stood motionless at the altar, hands clenched tightly at her sides. The priestess had been listening to this nonsense for far too long.

"So. in your panic, you’ve decided to place all the blame on the temple?"

Auriel said, addressing the nobles once more.

The bearded noble from before scoffed.

"Blame? No, we are merely questioning the legitimacy of your divinity."

The hall fell deathly silent.

Lilith visibly tensed, and Carol, who had followed Auriel inside, sucked in a sharp breath.

Auriel, however, remained still.

The bearded noble, emboldened by her lack of immediate reaction, continued,

"For years, we have followed this temple, believing in its teachings, in you. But what real proof do we have of your divinity? You appeared at the ceremony, yes, but how do we know that was not simply an elaborate illusion? Magic can be deceiving."

Other nobles began nodding in agreement, murmuring amongst themselves.

Another noble, a man with thin lips and a calculating expression, spoke next.

"We mean no disrespect, of course. But faith is not enough in times of crisis. We need evidence. A true goddess should have no trouble proving herself, after all."

He said smoothly, though his tone dripped with condescension.

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